MapBox

As the internet has created explosive and widely varying methods for us to interact with the world around us, some of the most important innovations go unnoticed. And while the rise of Google Maps and GPS-based games like Pokemon Go and geocaching make use of the digital space to create interesting new methods for the world around us, the practical application of cartography sometimes goes unnoticed. Mapbox takes the tools to map the world around us and puts them in the hands of everyone through the use of an open source cartographic framework. What's especially exciting is how expansive the practical objectives of this tool can be. From creating a meaningful demographic map for your sales team to assisting with census taking to launching an urban planting project, the geo data services that Mapbox offers are expansive, and the technology is already being used by industry giants like Lonely Planet, Pinterest, and CNN. Mapbox Studio serves as the core user experience - a means to create powerful, aesthetically pleasing, and attractive interactive maps on the fly. Mapbox was built behind the philosophy that it should be powerful enough for the demands of the most experienced cartographer but simple enough for new users to just pick up and use. For the most part, they've achieved their goal, and this is due in large part to their design interface. Opening up Mapbox will reveal a UI that will feel familiar to anyone who's ever used Photoshop or a similar editing app will be right at home with the tools offered. Unlike many other pieces of mapmaking software, all the essentials are there right out of the box. There's no need to fuss around with configurations or outside installations. There's no coding required to use Mapbox. Simply point and click or drag and drop to create and manipulate maps. You can either start by selecting an existing map from open sources (generally drawn from real GPS coordinates) which can then be overlaid with existing statistical information, or you can create your own from scratch. Multiple data sets can be integrated into the map so you can build sophisticated interactive maps keyed to the unique needs of your business or model, and a simple click of a button will bring you into x-ray mode where you can see all the data set information independent of the graphical map. This allows for more context-driven maps that can be created in an afternoon, and existing templates make it easy for you to take existing data and customize it for your customers. Mapbox also offers search functions which allow you to easily take coordinates and transform them into addresses. This simplifies the process of compiling information for your data set by taking the legwork out of the process. You can even integrate their turn-by-turn directions directly into your custom map.